It was an emotional day as Coventry brought their first season at the Butts Park Arena to a thunderous close, and also one for optimism.

Conditions were perfect for running rugby, and both sides obliged in a hugely entertaining 11-try jamboree - seven of the scores for Cov, whose reward was to take sixth place from their visitors in the final National Division One table and the tag of Midlands top dogs as they made hay in the warm sunshine.

The emotion was supplied by Dave Addleton, leading out the side on his 354th and final appearance which was prematurely ended by a rib injury after 27 minutes. The stalwart hooker was hurt as he scored Cov's third try, and as the last act in a 16-year career at the club, it was some way to go.

There was a standing ovation as well for Premiership-bound Shaun Perry as he was brought off midway through the final quarter after another outstanding performance behind his pack which reminded the fans of one thing they will be missing next season. But the optimists will believe that if Cov can continue to develop their game the way they have in the last few months, there could be a chance of Perry's old team-mates joining him in the top flight another year down the line.

Bedford came on the back of winning the Powergen Shield and beating champions Bristol in their two previous games, but they were cut apart by Cov's incisive running and support play which has been so good to watch since the turn of the year.

Viewing it all from the stand, new signings Dave Tiueti and Josh Taumalolo must have been impressed, and departing head coach Steve Williams and successor Mike Umaga have put a solid foundation in place.

"The boys are playing some really good rugby and enjoying doing it," said a happy Umaga. "There's a lot of heart and character there.

"Bedford came to try and bully us, but it didn't work. We just had to play rugby.

"I think we have put down a marker for next season. We have got a good core of the squad staying - we are losing some, but that's the nature of the business. We have made people stand up and take a look at Coventry with the style of rugby we are playing and the environment we have created for the players, and hopefully we will reap the benefits of that."

Cov had an uncomfortable first quarter as Bedford disrupted them in the scrum and led twice through a Leigh Hinton penalty, try and conversion. In between, however, Dan

Farani broke from a scrum near halfway, Nik Witkowksi burst through a gap when the ball was moved wide and Richard Davies finished off in the right corner.

Bedford failed to cope all game with No.8 Farani, whose availability next season hangs on a renewed visa, and they also suffered from some poor handling in the backs which led to Cov's second try with Perry breaking down the right from a loose ball and feeding Pila Fifita who, with no room to work in, somehow skipped away from a tackle and raced clear to the line for Davies to convert and put the home side in front at 12-10.

Addleton claimed Cov's next try from a line-out drive, with Bedford prop Soane Tonga'uiha in the sin bin, and although hooker Joe Ross touched down in response after Fifita had been carded for a high tackle, Perry weaved over for a superb individual try when Cov stole a Bedford line-out on the 22 - securing the bonus point, and Davies adding his third conversion for 26-15 at the break.

The game was settled in 13 glorious minutes after the break as Cov cut loose. Fly-half Jon Higgins carved open Bedford's defence to send in Donovan Sanders - who had a great game at centre - after exactly one minute of the second half; Kurt Johnson scooted over as Cov created a three-man overlap from another Farani explosion off a scrum; and Farani did it again six minutes later to this time put Witkowski over by the posts - Davies improving all three scores.

That was it for Cov as far as the scoring went, and as both sides rang the changes, Bedford plugged on to glean a consolation point with late tries from Tonga'uiha and Weldon Saayman, both converted by Hinton.

The game had long gone from them, however, and Cov's supporters had seen more than enough to sustain them through the close season.